Ground floor unit in Carrickmacross proposed for conversion into a private members gaming club Photo: © Michael Fisher

APPLICATION FOR PRIVATE MEMBERS GAMING CLUB PUT ON HOLD

Michael Fisher

Planners in Monaghan County Council have put on hold an application to open a private members gaming club in a vacant commercial unit off the Main Street in Carrickmacross.

The planning application was received by Monaghan County Council on January 21^st. It was submitted by a local architect on behalf of Carrick Gold Mine Ltd. It sought full planning permission for a change of use from an existing ground floor commercial unit to a private members gaming club with external signage, and including all other associated site works. The premises is situated beside the car park at the rear of Carrickmacross Shopping Centre at Drummond Etra, Main Street. At last month’s meeting of the Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District Council, the five members present had expressed their objections to the proposal.

Two people, a man and a woman with an address in Carrickmacross, are described as directors of the registered company that made the application. In a letter to the planners they said that the proposed use of the premises would be for a professionally managed Private Members Gaming Club. It would provide card games like Baccarat and other games like Texas Holdem etc “for groups of dedicated card players”. It would the Club’s intention to have weekly Poker tournaments, some of which would be for local sports teams and associations, according to the letter. The club’s facilities would be open to members only, who must be over eighteen.

A letter sent to the applicants by a planning officer last Friday requested additional information about a number of aspects. It asked them to indicate the proposed opening hours of the proposed gaming club and to submit proposals to demonstrate clearly that the premises can be operated in such a manner that a noise nuisance does not emanate from within the proposed private members gaming club or arise outside in the vicinity of the club. Carrick Gold Mine Ltd has also been asked to submit proposals for external lighting to each elevation of the development and the applicant shall submit revised details indicating a single sign to the front elevation. The applicant must also specify the materials to be used in the proposed sign, which shall not be internally illuminated. The applicants have a timeframe of six months to reply to the Council with the requested information.

THE NORTHERN STANDARD Thursday 19th March Carrickmacross News